Get nostalgic at Arizona’s 6 old-fashioned soda fountains

Take a step into the past with one of the six old-fashioned soda fountains in Arizona’s small towns. 

Imagine a place where the soda flows freely, the ice cream is scooped liberally, and the people serving behind the counter are generally happy to interact with you. Add in a vibrant 50s aesthetic, and you have just imagined an old-fashioned soda fountain. Some of us millennials may chuckle thinking about the antics of Taylor’s Olde Fashioned Soda Shoppe from “The Gilmore Girls,” but few realize how real these nostalgic businesses really are.

Meant as a stop to satisfy the sweet tooth, soda fountains have recently become a place of sweet nostalgia, an innocent refuge from an increasingly chaotic world. Though modern existence is dwindling—many soda fountain revivals permanently closed doors during the pandemic—there are still a handful of locations throughout Arizona. Several have maintained business by doubling as a diner, not too far a cry from the pharmacy additions that soda fountains once were in the earlier part of the 1900s (go get your meds and sweets in one swift stop!).

The few soda fountains that have focused on maintaining the old-fashioned appeal are complete with checkered floors, mirrored backdrops, and a center-stage bar surrounded by vintage stools. If a dose of nostalgia with the promised indulgence of a sweet treat gets your sense of joy tingling, be sure to check out one of the six soda fountains in Arizona. You might just want to plan your next road trip around it! 

1. The Lyric Soda Fountain

503 W Sullivan St, Miami, AZ 85539

“This town feels like driving into another world that’s been frozen in time,” exclaims one of the local business owners of Miami, Arizona. Located just over an hour outside of Phoenix, the historical charm of the mining town known as Miami is a well-suited spot for the old-fashioned nostalgia that The Lyric Soda Fountain fosters. With vintage swinging stools, old tin signs of yesteryear, an antique arcade game in the corner, vibrant red booths, and an old windowed manager’s office looking down from the elaborate and extra-tall ceiling, the nostalgia of The Lyric begins the moment you step through the doors. Add in the decadent ice cream, elaborate soda options, and friendly staff, and you are nearly guaranteed to fall in love with the innocence and peace that only an old-fashioned soda fountain can muster.

Photo courtesy of Marine 69-71/CC BY-SA 4.0.

2. MacAlpine’s

2303 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85006

In 1929, MacAlpine’s opened its soda fountain doors as an addition to a pharmacy, a classic start for any soda fountain. Unlike others of this nature, it has remained a classic soda fountain throughout the decades and radiates its authentic nostalgic charm with poignant details such as the vintage stools, the subdued colors, and the 2-songs-for-a-quarter jukebox. This is an amazing place to go for a bite, an ice cream soda, and an innocent escape from all of the craziness of the modern world.

Although featured in national books due to its alleged haunted history (I first found it through The Haunted Road Atlas!), MacAlpine’s has felt the hit of the mandatory shutdowns during the pandemic and has been struggling to stay open for a while. Thanks to a long-awaited GoFundMe, MacAlpine’s has been able to salvage some stability and is open for limited hours: Wednesday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. With nearly 100 different soda flavors, it is worth making the time to enjoy–and support–this true gem of a historical business. 

Photo courtesy of cobalt123/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

3. Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner

105 E Andy Devine Ave, Kingman, AZ 86401

More than just a soda fountain, Mr. D’z Diner lies right on Route 66 and has maintained all of its vintage charm since renovating and opening in the 80s. Complete with old-fashioned cars, brightly colored booths, and affordable yet tasty meals, this is a quintessential stop in Kingman for those traveling between Arizona and Vegas. One step through the doors and you’ll be transported into a livelier version of Hopper’s famous 1942 painting Nighthawks. With kind waitresses and delicious American fare accompanied by soda and ice cream, this is a stop worth returning to again and again. A bonus is that it sits right across the street from a historical railway park that houses a vintage railway car!

Image courtesy of CC0.

4. Jerry’s Restaurant

1612 W Thatcher Blvd, Safford, AZ 85546

Despite the unassuming curb appeal, Jerry’s Restaurant has the charm of a classic soda fountain without all the kitsch of nostalgic-themed diners. While there are three locations, I’ve only been to the Safford location, which I happened upon by chance. It is one of the only restaurants in town open for all three daily meals and seems to be busy at all hours—a great sign for a great meal. Despite the hoppin’ crowd, the wait staff is friendly and personable, the food is tasty, and the simplicity of the design leans into a more authentic experience of a traditional soda fountain without all the exaggeration of rockabilly revival.

While “soda fountain” isn’t the main attraction of the joint, the vintage feel earns it a point for this list. Be sure to try one of their many soda floats!

5. Miz Zip’s

2924 E Rte 66, Flagstaff, AZ 86004

Pink walls, checkered flooring, red bar stools: you’ll find them all at Miz Zip’s. The tiny diner in Flagstaff keeps the idea of an old-fashioned soda fountain alive with classic American diner meals. Be sure to try one of the sodas with classic flavors, and maybe request a scoop of their thick and delicious ice cream! 

6. Twisted Sugar

Various locations

While old-fashioned soda fountains are rare gems today, Twisted Sugar is the modernization of what once was, as it maintains perhaps the best part of the soda fountain: the sweet escape for the sweet tooth. The six locations across the Valley offer specialty soda mixes, ooey gooey cookies, and beverage combinations meant to boost energy. The aesthetic is cute but modern, serving as a reminder that some of the best ideas remain alive and well, just reimagined to fit the modern world.

Honorable Mention

St. Elmo

36 Brewery Ave, Bisbee, AZ 85603

St. Elmo in Bisbee, Arizona is a bar in its modern day but its history makes it extra special. Dubbed the longest-operating bar in Arizona, St. Elmo’s survived prohibition by operating as a soda fountain. It’s currently a fun little dive bar with history and inexpensive libations that can certainly help you escape—just not in the same innocent way as the above businesses can!

The next time you are seeking something sweet, a dose of nostalgia, or an escape into a world most innocent, an old-fashioned soda fountain is the place to go. If planned right, a short in-state road trip could lead to the exploration of some smaller historical towns and the sampling of some sweet nostalgic treats. 

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

READ MORE: 11 scrumptious stops along Mesa’s Fresh Foodie Trail